Snap electric switch.



J. A. SMITH. SNAP ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1912.

' Patented May 5, 1914.

Elnvhtoz GIMM- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

103114.. smug, or BELLEVUE, KENTUcKiAssIGNoR TO THE UNITED STATES ELEC- TRICAL TOOL COMPANY, or CINCINNATI, OHIO, a CORPORATION or 01110 SNAP ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5,1914.

Application filed September 9, 1912. Serial No. 719,296.

. To all whom-it may concern:

' specification.

"uThiS invention deals with improvements in electric snap switches and is more particularly concerned with the type thereof adapted by finger pressure alternatively to open and close the circuit.

One object within the contemplation. of this invention is to ci'eate'a switch of the foregoing nature which will be notable for compactness, simplicity, durability and reliability.-

' Another object is to provide a finger snap switch well adapted for use in Connection with portable electric motor driven apparatus and which may be readily constructed into a 1part of the apparatus in or adjacent a hazule thereof within convenient reach for manipulation by the finger.

Another object is to devise a switch of the above specified type in which but one finger operated piece, will sufiice for throwing the switch by finger pressure, both for open ng and for closing-the circuit in alternative successh n. and in which the contact springs alone will perform the ofiice, of snapping'the movable switch element into the open or closed position and holding it in such position.

Other objects-ill he in part obvious from the annexed drawings, and in part indicated in connection with the following description.

I in. order that this invention may be made more readily comprehensible to those skilled in this art, drawings illustrating one of the many possible embodiments thereof have been appended as a part of this disclosure, and in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the figures, of which Figure l is an elevation showing a handle combined with a switch construction in'accordance with this invention. Fig. is an end view partly in section showing details of the conncction' between the finger operated piece and-the rocking switch element. Fig. 3 is an inside elevation showing the arrangement'of the contacting and operating springs.

Continuing'now by way of a more detailed description, 1 indicates a. portion of the casing of the apparatus embodying this invention, and 2 signifies a handle secured to said casing portion either integrally or by suitable screws as will be readily understood. 'Laterally projecting from said casing or handle is a portion 3 serving as a support or hearing face for the movable members of the switch.' This portion is here. shown provided with a hole extending parallel with the handle, and opening into theinterior of the casing 1, and in such'hole is arranged a rock shaft 1 terminating in a screw threaded end 5, to which is secured a block 6 of insulating material rigidly positioned by means of nuts 7. In this instance, this block of insulating material is square in outline, so as to provide two opposite facets of insulating material, and two other facets, to which are affixed contacting plates 8 and 9, that are electrically connected and held in place by means of connecting Wires 10. Arranged at a distance from said insulating block is another insulating block 11, which is secured to the casing l, and carries the spring members 12 and 13, that extend forwardly to the insulating block (3, and have their free ends resiliently urged againstthe same, as shown by Fig; 3. These spring members serve to snap-the rock shaft, and the block of insulating material carried thereby into definite positions, either determining the opening or closing of the circuit, according to whether or not the contact plates 8 and 9 are in contact with the springs 12 and 13such springs being also of conducting material, and forming current conveyers. For the purpose of enabling the insulating blocks 6 to he rocked into positions at ninety degrees apart, the pin 14 extends radially fromsaid shaft and swings through an appropriate angle in a cavity or seat- 15, provided by part 3. This part 3 is in turn bored transversely to the axis of the rock shaft, and in this bore is mounted a reciprocating finger piece 16, thathas its ends projecting from either side of part 3. Thisri'nger piece is preferably provided with a slot 17 having an opening closely adjacent the rock shaft so as to provide 'abutinents 18 and 19 adapted to can tact opposite sides of the pin at a point closely adjacent its base, By reasonof this construction, if the reciprocating plunger 16 be pressed and moved by the finger, the

shaft 4 will be quickly rocked until the pin 14: reaches an extreme position, which will be determined by its contact with some other part, as for example, by the cont-acting of its upper end with the end walls of the slot- 15 of the part A. suitable cap may be used for inclcsing these parts.

It will thus be perceived that this invention is well adapted to achieve the objects and ends aforesaid by means of a simple and compact arrangement, and that the same will be durable and reliable for the purposes intended.

Without further elaboration, and in the light of current knowledge, the foregoing disclosure will enable those skilled in this art to readily utilize various interchangeably available elements which, although perhaps calculated to appear widely different from those shown, and have a somewhat varied disposition, would nevertheless embody certain, if not all of the herein described features which, from the aspect of the prior art, would constitute characteristics of this invention and should and accordingly are intended to be comprehended within the wording and scope of the following claims.

I claim 1. A finger actuated snap switch of the nature disclosed combining a support, a rock shaft mounted therein, electrical switch mechanism actuated by said rock shaft, a finger piece mounted to reciprocate transversely to the axis of said rock shaft and having each end free whereby it may be moved in either direction by a pressure of the finger on a corresponding end, a pin projecting radially from said rock shaft, and a pair of abutmcnts carried by said finger piece and located on opposite sides of said pin near its base, whereby said pin may be swung through 'an arc during a reciprocation of said finger piece.

2. A finger actuated snap switch of the nature disclosed combining a support, a rock shaft mounted therein, electrical switch mechanism actuated by said rock shaft, a finger piece mounted to reciprocate transversely to the axis of said rock shaft and having each end free whereby it may be moved in either direction by a pressure of the finger on a corresponding end, said" finger piece being slotted intermediate its ends, the end walls of said slots being relatively close on the side of the piece adjacent the rock shaft and widely spaced at the op posite side of the piece, and a pin radially extending from said rock shaft into said slot.

3. In a device of the'nature disclosed, a tool casing, an external support, a rock shaft extending from the support to the interior of the casing, a member on the inner end of the rock shaft having alternate insulating and metallic contact surfaces, springs within the casing between which said member reciprocally rocks, said springs and contact surfaces being formed to impart a snap tending from said support to the interior of the casing, a member on the inner end of said shaft having alternate insulating and metallic contact surfaces, springs within the casing between which said member operates. said springs and contact surfaces being formed to impart a snap movement to said shaft after its initial, manually-induced movement, means establishing an electric circuit when said metallic and spring surfaces are in contact, and means on the support having transmission. connections for initially moving said shaft.

5. In a-device of the nature disclosed a tool casing, a support external of the casing, a rock shaft extending from the support to the interior of the casin a polygonal mem her on the inner end 0 the casing having alternate insulating and metallic contact surfaces, springs within the casing between which said member reciprocally rocks said springs and member cooperating to impart a snap movement to said rock shaft after its initial, manually-induced movement, means establishing an electric circuit when said metallic and spring surfaces are in contact, a longitudinally reciprocating finger mem-' her on the support having its opposite ends exposed on opposite sides of the support, and means converting the longitudinal reciprocating finger movement into a recipro-.

cal shaft rocking movement.

In testimony whereof, I have my hand.

J. A. SMITH.

hereunto set W itnesses:

OLIVER B. KAISER, CLARENCE B. FosTnR.

floplet of this patent may be obtained for fivecents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. e. 

